He added that training without corresponding support would not yield expected outcome.

At the closing ceremony of the National Industrial Skills Development Programme (NISDP), Ari said the decision to provide start-up packs was informed by the agency’s tracking and monitoring of earlier trainees, who were not supported with start-up packs. He said 90 per cent of the trainees went ahead to be successful entrepreneurs, or even employers of labour.

He said: “This phase of the programme will benefit over 11,000 trainees across the 36 states of the Federation and the FCT.

“The start-up packs that are being distributed today should be viewed as our practical example and message to our stakeholders, especially state governors and other members of the Organised Private Sector (OPS) that training without corresponding support will not lead to expected outcome.

“It is in this light that I will especially commend governors that have so far equipped trainees in their states with start-up packs. We want to urge all governors and other office holders to follow the examples of their colleagues if the objectives of empowering their citizens with skills acquisition will meet the expected objectives.”

He said the trainees were trained for three months in three trades namely: tailoring and fashion design, welding and fabrication, and plumbing and pipe-fitting.

Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, who was represented by the Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment, Mrs Akingbile Yusuf said the initiative was a good step in the right direction.